Mind The Gap: A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Infrastructure on Global Development

What is the causal effectiveness of large-scale infrastructure development in poverty reduction? On Friday 19th January, British International Investment (BII) hosted the latest Private Sector Development Research Network (PSDRN) seminar on ‘The Impact of Infrastructure on Development Outcomes’. What insights do policy makers require in designing interventions that maximise the developmental impact of infrastructure? What…

What does the Wheeler Institute’s DL Labs internship look like?

Former intern Chris Wright (LBS MBA 2023) reports on his five months travelling across the Indian subcontinent as a DL Labs intern. From conducting research on-the-ground to liaising with high profile entrepreneurs, here’s how the experience informed his understanding of social enterprises. Dharma Life is an NGO driving progress through a network of 17,000 rural…

What can finance take away from COP28?  

How might COP28 impact global finance? Last week, the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development hosted ‘COP28 debrief breakfast: what can finance take away from COP28?’, in collaboration with ESG Book and the Climate Bonds Initiative, to explore some possible answers. Characterised by a sense of urgency and a challenging economic environment, COP28 marked a…

The Sui Foundation gives $1 million gift to the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development

Pioneering Layer 1 blockchain Sui has made a $1 million contribution to the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development to support our mission in new and exciting ways. This donation is a part of London Business School’s ambitious and transformational £200 million fundraising campaign, Forever Forward. The Sui Foundation is a pioneering blockchain, responsible for a wide range of…

Sustainable Business: New Climate Standards for Africa

In November 2023, the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development in conjunction with the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRS) hosted a four-part virtual lecture series that delved into the importance of new climate standards for business, with a particular focus on the African continent. In 2021 during COP26 in Glasgow, the Trustees of the IFRS…

Supporting entrepreneurs in informal ecosystems: Lessons from Alexandra

In our first two articles about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Alexandra, we explored the typical challenges faced by microentrepreneurs and informal entrepreneurs operating in South African townships, before looking at the institutional ecosystem in which these entrepreneurs operate. Our third and final post in this 3-part series will explore the way forward: Can the disconnect…

Mapping the SMME Ecosystem in informal markets: Learnings from Alexandra

Our previous post on informal entrepreneurship in Alexandra focused on the typical challenges encountered by mainly informal entrepreneurs and microbusiness owners. This second post will focus on the supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem: Who are the key role players, and what kind of support is available to a typical entrepreneur in Alex? Does this ecosystem provide what…

Understanding the key challenges of entrepreneurs in informal markets: Learnings from Alexandra

This is the first article of a 3-part series on informal entrepreneurship in emerging markets, based on empirical research conducted in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa. Elizabeth Mogale* (not her real name), a 48-year old mother of four, grills chickens on the pavement of 12th avenue in Alexandra, one of Johannesburg’s most…

Incorporating Climate Risks and Opportunities: Insights from a leading Credit Agency

As part of the Wheeler Institute Climate Initiative, Lucrezia Reichlin, London Business School Professor of Economics and trustee of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation, recently hosted a webinar on “The need for and impact of high quality globally comparable reporting” on 10th March 2022. Lucrezia was joined by Richard Cantor, Chief Risk Officer of Moody’s…

The new-challenge of being carbon neutral by 2050

Attention on climate change and efforts to mitigate its impact has increased exponentially from investors and financial markets in the last decade. From a financial perspective, this focus has led to considerable investment towards climate change mitigation initiatives, such that the pressure is now on businesses that are not doing enough.  As part of the…